Students frequently overlook a very important factor in the process of choosing a college: College graduation rates! There’s a few things that a high graduation rate means—and it’s important for you to know! Finding the graduation rates of the colleges that you are interested in can help you make an informed decision regarding your future.
College Graduation Rates
College Graduation Rates
The college graduation rate simply lets you know how many students stick through to the end. Colleges are required to publish their graduation rates—but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy to find!
Dig around on the school’s website or look for it in one of the giant college information books found at your local library. Of course, you can also get the information from college admissions.
High College Graduation Rates
A college with a high percentage of graduation rates can tell you a few things.
The college may have a very strong financial aid program in place to help students pay for continuing their studies. Low income students aren’t forced to drop out when there is ready financial aid available. This can be more readily apparent in a high graduation rate (you can check out our list of low-income friendly colleges and universities, too) but you should never cross a school off your list based on sticker price! You just never know how much add you will get.
Sometimes, a high graduation rate can mean that a college has a lot of resources available to help students achieve their goals. For example, a school with a high graduation rate may have a well-stocked college library, updated equipment, and easy access to tutors and other peer mentors. Students who can find help and support tend to stay put.
Admissions may have sought out students who met and exceeded the factors of college admission. Admissions may have admitted students who have already shown a demonstrated success in high school—and let in those they believe will keep up the good work in college!
Where You Fit In
Don’t think that a college with a lower graduation rate is something to ignore. Make the college campus visit, find out more detail about the programs and majors that your interested in, and see if it feels like the right fit for you! Sometimes, the numbers just don’t tell you everything you need to know—so visit the campus and see for yourself!
Image Courtesy of Flickr, ajagendorf25.
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